I forgot to add, I'm looking for something around $60-$80, not one that is super cheap and crappy (I have think hair), but I don't want to spend over $100 either.

Both, Northern Ireland and the Republic use the 3 prong plugs.
Italy and the rest of the Continent the 2 prong plugs.
As voltage is the same you would indeed just need a simple plug converter.

No clue about how you could buy a 240v appliance in the US other than go to, for example, amazon.co.uk and probably pay a nice sum for shipping.

I would just wait and buy one there. Most airports will have an electronics store with travel type items.

I feel like ordering something ahead of time will be cheaper than buying something in an airport, and I don't want a travel iron, I want a regular-sized one and I want a good iron to use for a long period of time, not the type you would buy at an airport. But thanks anyway. I'll check amazon.uk, anyone have any specific suggestions of ones they have or have had that have been good? Thanks!

No need to buy one at the airport. Wait until you are at your hotel, then go shopping for one in the city you arrive. My wife did just that when her US plugged straightener burned up our converter. She simply went to a appliance store in Paris and picked one up. I think the cost was 40-50 euros = $52-$65. You can buy a plug adapter either onlineor from Radio Shack, if you have one in your town.

I've bought a hair dryer, a curling iron, and a travel iron while in Germany.

I have bought plug adaptors at a luggage store, so that when I'm in a three-prong country I just attach the plug adaptor to the two-prong appliance.

None of the three items was expensive, but they've held up very well on multiple trips to Europe.

In Paris now using the flat iron I purchased years ago here at Darty. I've used it in London and Italy with an adaptor. It's terrific. I agree that you should purchase one at your first stop. It's fun to go to the local stores and see what's available. I have thick, curly, frizzy hair so I can appreciate your desire for a working straightener!

Good luck!

I bought one in Paris a yrs ago at Galleries Lafayette. You are right to not try the US version with converters...it just doesn't work. I would wait and buy there.

I bought a rather expensive straightener from folica.com a few years ago for use abroad, not a dual voltage, I believe it was a Solia or Sedu. Then last year when my daughter was going to Greece, we found a dual voltage one at Marxhalls for $25. I did not have much faith that i would work well, but given the price, I thought it was worth a try. That one worked fine for her & I used it while I was there, it was almost as good as my Solia straightener here. I have also bought a universal adaptor from Amazon which has 3 types pf plugs built in, one for USA, one for UK & I believe the third will work in other European countries. Will find out in a few days when we are in France!

Well my first week I am going to be in small towns in Italy and I don't think I'll be able to buy one there and I don't want to go a week without straightening my hair. Also, I bought a straightener last summer in Paris and I really didn't like the way it worked, so I'd like to buy one ahead of time so that I can read reviews and was hoping to hear of one that someone thought worked really well. I'd much rather buy it ahead of time, so if anyone has any suggestions please still let me know!

You can find one on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Sedu-Ceramic-Tourmaline-Straightener-Edition/dp/B000BTYGM8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1335919045&sr=8-4

That would work for the UK but you would need an adaptor for the rest of Europe (I think).

It's more than you wanted to spend but peace of mind before a trip is invaluable.

"I heard about a kind of straightener that has the 3 prongs, but you can remove one for using in the countries with 2 prongs? "

Nope! Not only would that ruin the plug, UK/European prongs are completely different size/length.

You need plug adapters

Www.amazon.co.uk. Should have what you need, and like janisj says, you will need plug adapters as the prongs are different sizes.